Electrical grounding device.



R. A. BECKER. ELECTRICAL GROUNDING DEVICE.

APPLIC ATION FILED NOV-27.1916.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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Robezflfiec/ren v y W I 1 v J R. A. BECKER. ELECTRICAL GROUNDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 27. ISIS- 1,290,881., Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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.'APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27 1916.

1,290,881. I Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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um/unto;

' To all whom it may concern:

v UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

BOBERT A. BECKER, OI 1OUGHKEEPSIE,'NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES TBEMAIN,

OF POUGH KEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL GBOUNDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application flied November 27, 1918. Serial No. 133,881.

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Bnoxnn, a citizen of the United States, residln at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutc ess and State of New York, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Grounding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved device for groundln electric conductors, to safel convey be ow the surface of the earth e ectrical discharges passing off from lightning arresters, as well as for providing an efiicient return for the current on one side of an electric transmls' sion system, and for similar conditions m which an earth connection ofiermg low resistance isdemanded.

Another object is to provide such a device of the pointed type adapted to be driven into the earth in combination with a simple and efiicient means of high conductivity for connecting electrical conductors thereto.

Still another objwt is to provide a device of this character comprising a hollow pipe or tube, a ointed member secured to one .'end thereo means secured to the opposite end of said pi e for 'securingan electrical conductor to the device as a whole and simultaneously closing the adjacent end of the pi e, and simple means for securing an end 0 said conductor extending within saidpipe to said pointed member.

And a still further object is to provide such a device in which the pipe is insulated from the conductor and ground point, making physical contact with the same entirel harmless even in extreme conditions wit currents of high tension and the existence of a perfect ground for the body in contact with the pipe.

Further advantages and. details in the construction of the present invention are fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fi 're 1 is an elevation of one embodiment o the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal diametrical section of the same; Fig. 3 is a collective view of the elements forming the means for securing a conductor to the free end of a grounded. pipe; Fig. 4 is a collective view of the elements forming the means for securing the conductor end to the ground and centrally Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of a Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectionon the line 99 of Fi 6; Fig. 10 is an elevation of a groun ing rod partly in section; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified grouric point connection from that shown in eferring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a metallic or other suit-' able gipe 10-is provided, having externally threa ed ends and adapted to receive and protect an insulated, or other, electric con ductor 11 extending therethrough and bared at its end portions.

To one end of said pipe is secured a cap 12, provided with a' central aperture 13 opening into the smaller end of a tapering recess 14 passing through an externally threaded reduced extension 15 of said ca the device preferably bein provided wit an insulating sleeve 16 of brous or similar material both internally and externally threaded and separating the said cap from said pipe. This sleeve is closed at one end apertured at 17 to permit the passage of t e wire conductor therethrough. Upon the ca extension 15 is screwed a second cap 19, aving its free annular edge portion spun or die-stamped to form a ange 20 for encircling and slidably retaining the annular flanged portion 21- of a member 22, havin a central tapered apere ture 23 in which slides longitudinally a centrally apertured, expansible, gripping member 24., as the said cap IQ .is screwed into 'said gripping members and the adjacent ends of the pipe-inclosed conductor and that extending to the line, operatesto forcethe.

air from between the contacting surfaces, and by the (great pressure produced to form a cold wel of low resistance and conse-. quently of high conductivity.

Upon the opposite end of the said pipe is secured a cap 26*, provided with an inwardly tapering aperture 27 within which is adapted to be forced a third tapered member 28, similar to. those above described and surrounding a relatively short bared section 29 of the electric conductor '11. The lower end portion 30 of the said cap is externally threaded to receive the pointed cap 31, the recess in which terminates in a wall 32, with which the member cocperates as the two caps are screwed together, thereby firmly gripping the said conductor end 29. Between the pipe 10 and the cap 26 is also preferably interposed an externally and internally threaded insulating sleeve 32 of suitable material and similar to the sleeve 16.

At times, particularly when the device is liable to be subjected to high voltage, the sleeves 16 and 32 may be omitted and instead the pipe 10 is inclosed within an insulating tube 34, to which is secured a suitably shaped cap 35 of the same material, and at its opposite end apertured at 36 to permit the passage of the conductor 25 therethrough.

With this construction a ground wire is carried along the side of a building, pole, or the like, to the device hereinbefore described and, with an end and intermediate section thereof bared of the insulation, it is secured in position as shown by firmly screwing the respective caps and gripping members into place; When thus assembled, the pipe is insulated from the conductor, and the gripping means, secured to the up per end thereof though electrically charged may be protected by a suitable sectional insulating shell, in such manner as to protect persons or animals coming into contact therewith.

While the foregoing describes a pointed grounding device to whichthe electric con- .duc'tor is secured by plug gripping members,

Figs. 5 and-6 illustrate a modified form of the device to which the conductor is secured, by -twisting together with a short piece of the same material. To the lower end of the usu'a'l pipe 10 is screwed a cap 40 provided with anoval, or two circular, apertures'41 through which extends one bared end of the insulated conductor 11 from within the pipe and the end portion of a'short bare section 42 of a similar electric conductor. Upon the lower reduced end portion 43 of the said cap is screwed a pointed cap 44, having a central recess 45 terminatin inwardly in'a pair of recesses 46. Into e'ac of these latter recesses the respective free ends of the two eonductors are inserted and the last-named cap revolved into place, thereby twisting saidv conductors together as shown. This .provides a second method of positively securing a conductor to a ground point and insures a positive and unyielding cooperation between the respective parts, automatically locking said parts against accidental loosensentially a pipeca ing, and forming a cold weld by drawing the wires together in such manner as to force all air from between them.

The upper connecting means may be formed in a similar manner, comprising es- 49, provided with apertures 50 to receive t e onductor and one end of a section of conductor 51. Upon the said c'a is screwed a second cap 52, also provi ed with holes 53, through which also pass the said conductor and section, the result being that, by the IGVOlVlIlg of the cap upon the other with the said conductors held firmly by each, the latter are securely twisted together and form a bond of the most positive character.

Many conditions characteristic of certain kinds of installations require a solid rounding member such as a bar instead 0 a pipe or lnclosed conductor. Such a device is shown in Fig. 10, wherein a rod 56 is capped at one end by a pointed member 57 threaded thereon and preferably locked or bound against loosening by the wedge-shaped member 58,

entering the tapering recess 59 in said bar and abutting at its other end the inner wall 60 ofthe cap recess. To the opposite end of said bar is threaded a hollow member 61,

and securely gripping the bared end portion.

of an electrical conductor 64 by cocperation with the end of the said bar or rod.

In Fig. 11 is shown a form of the device comprising a pipe 65 in the opposite ends of which fit solid members 66 prevented. from wholly entering said pipe by an annular flange 67, one of said members being providedcentrally with an inwardly tapering aperture 68.into which is forced a tapering plug 69, surrounding a short piece of wire 70, by contact with the wall 60 of the pointed head 57 Against the other member 66 a tapering member 72, surrounded by a washer 73, coiiperates with the sides of a tapering bore 74 in the pipe cap 7 5 to grip and firmly secure one bared end of an electric conductor 76.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A grounding device, comprising a tube, a head secured to one end thereof, a member secured to the other end thereof, electric insulating material interposed j between said tube and each of said head and said memher, and an electric conductor electrically connectingsaid head and said member and ductor to said member said conductor extending through and insulated from said tube, and insulatin means inter osed between said tube and each of said ead and said member.

3. A grounding device, comprising a tube, an electric conductor extending therethrough and insulated therefrom, a cap on one end of said tube and insulated therefrom, a sec-- ond cap on the other end of said tube and insulated therefrom, and each being provided with a tapering aperture, yielding gripping means within said apertures, a olnted ea operative to contract one of sai means about an end of said conductor as it is screwed into place, an apertured head operative to contract the otherof said means about the other end of said conductor, a third ielding means slidable within said second ead and cooperative with the adjacent one of said first gripping means to grip and removably secureto the device a second electric conductor.

4. A groundin device, comprisin amember adapted toe grounded, a ho ow cap adapted to be secured thereto and provided with a radially and reversely inwardly diyielding member slidable within said first member and operative to grip and secure an electric conductor, as said cap is screwed 1 upon said first-named member.

5. A grounding device, comprising a rod or tube, a hollow cap adapted to be secured thereto and provided with a radially directed flange, a member provided with a tapered bore and havin a portion in slidable engagement with said flange, said member being movable relative to said capas the latter is revolved upon the end of said rod or tube and a tapered member slidable within said bore and adapted to grip an electric conductor as said gripping member is forced through said bore by screwing said cap upon said rod or tube.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

1 ROBERT A. BECKER. Witnesses:

LAURENCE E. ,Snnnwoon, ANNA G. W. Danny. 

